Anna felt him put his hand on her shoulder, starting to panic. At first, he just stroked the spot, but then he squeezed until he drew a groan of pain from Anna, who stared at him with tears in her eyes, as he kept his hand there, squeezing even harder, while staring at her coldly. Anna knew they would hear if she screamed, but she didn't want to worry Allister or give Adam the pleasure, so she closed her eyes and bit her tongue, determined to endure the pain in silence. The grip lessened, but his hand remained on her shoulder. Anna opened her eyes and saw a mixture of surprise and coldness in Adam's eyes.
He released her and put his hand back in his pocket.
"Go on, miss."
"Do you need any help?" Anna knew she was facing a troubled man. Perhaps a conversation could transform him into someone more... human.
"If you stay here, I won't be able to control myself, and you won't like what happens."
Anna stood with her mouth open, not knowing what sound should come out of it. Jenna arrived at the door.
"Boss, do you need anything else? It's about time for my flight."
"Take her away." He said without looking at either of them.
Jenna took Anna's hand and dragged her away.
But Anna was still under the influence of the wine, so she let go of Jenna's hand and looked at her questioningly.
"You can go, Jenna. I need to stay."
"Don't be crazy, miss..."
"I don't know. There's something holding me here. I feel like I need to take something away, or I'll spend the rest of my life feeling empty." Anna said with tears in her eyes.
"Poor child. You like him. I know what you want, but you don't need it. Go back to the boss..."
"You'll be late." Anna said with dignity, wiping away her tears.
Jenna shook her head affirmatively.
"Good luck." She said and left.
Anna stood there in the living room. Standing in front of the open door. She needed to get out of there. But she needed to get something first. What had Jenna said? "You don't need that". Maybe she was right. But then why couldn't she leave? She turned around. Anna felt his presence.
Adam was leaning against the doorframe. The two of them stared at each other. Desire reflected in both their eyes.
"Why do you talk to me like I'm only twelve years old? We must be the same age and..."
"My experience is of a man older than your lover, All."
"I doubt that."
"I don't care."
The silence that followed wasn't one of tension. It was one of mutual attraction. Anna couldn't help thinking that perhaps, everything she thought could be the worst, was actually the best. All said she might like her fate.
Anna wanted to touch his hair and caress his face, and when he looked suggestively at the open door, Anna made a decision. She closed the door and approached Adam, who was watching her curiously and when she arrived, less than three centimeters from him, one of the men in the black suit opened the door violently, and looked at Adam, visibly shaken.
"It's the boss! We've already called the ambulance." He said and left.
Anna felt the fire burning inside her and scorching her face. She left without looking at Adam and ran to Allister's room.
Suzy was crying on the bedside table where Anna usually stayed, and the doctor and Kate were standing by the medicine table talking with worried looks on their faces. No one noticed Anna coming in, and approaching the bed, looking at the body stretched out in fear. The nurse came in behind Anna and checked Allister's pulse. Adam arrived soon after and stood in the doorway.
Anna touched All's face, which was pale, and she noticed that his mouth was blue. He opened his eyes and pursed his lips.
Tears streamed down Anna's face. He was trying to say something. She should have stuck to her routine and stayed by his side.
"The ambulance has arrived." A hoarse, choked voice warned, and Anna looked back. Ryan was there. She turned quickly to Allister. She didn't want to stay at home, not knowing what was happening to the man she loved. It didn't matter what she had felt for Adam a few minutes ago. It was over. It was just neediness. Her body had been demanding sex for some time, in fact, ever since she moved in with Allister, whom she loved, her puberty hormones had been screaming for more intimate contact. She closed her eyes, trying to calm down. It was just that. Neediness. She repeated it to herself until she felt better, and then looked at Ryan, remembering that he had told her that it wasn't just Adam who decided things there.
"I want to go with him."
Ryan nodded in agreement, and when they took Allister away, Anna followed in the same car as Suzy.
Suzy didn't say anything. She just cried and Anna ignored her. Her crying was annoying Anna. All was not dead. He wouldn't die. Not yet. Not without saying goodbye to her.
They arrived at the hospital and were seen to straight away. Allister went into the operating room as an emergency, the others were taken to the waiting room and a nurse brought them all coffee.
No one looked at each other, no one dared to say anything. They remained in this tense silence until the doctor accompanying Allister came to talk to them.
"He's fine, the fact that he's not human is prolonging his life, but we're going to let him spend another hour under observation to release all visitors, but he's very agitated and wants to see his companion..."
Anna realized that the doctor had just said that Allister wasn't human.
Suzy stood up and the doctor looked at her embarrassed.
"Anna."
Anna stood up, still stunned by the doctor's audacity to say that Allister wasn't human, but it seemed that those words displeased only her, and Suzy approached her.
"Tell him I love him."
Anna just nodded and followed the doctor.